Well swab



Jan. 24, 1939. R. STANDLEE 2,144,944

WELL SWAB Filed Jan. 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. R- STANDLEE WELL SWABJan 1. 24, 1939.

Filed Jan. 18, 1937 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v. A r// 4 Patented Jan. 24, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Guiberson Corporation tion of DelawareDallas, Tex., a corpora- Application January 18, 1937, Serial No.121,055

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well swabs andconstitutes an improvement over the mechanism shown in my Patent1,883,053, patented October 18, 1932.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well swab of theflexible type having certain advantages making for more efllcientoperation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a well swab of theflexible type having improved means for attaching the flexible supportto the sub, whereby said flexible support may be readily connected to ordisconnected from the sub without manipulating screw threaded members ortwisting the elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well swabwherein various swab assemblies may be readily connected with animproved sub, whereby a single sub may be used interchangeably withvarious swab assemblies, making for savings in time and equipment costs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved well swabwherein the normal distortion of the elastic swab member or cup may beregulated to compensate slight variations in the inside diameters of thewell tubing or casing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sub forwell swabs of the flexible type having a socket therein for receivingthe upper end of a flexible stem connected with the swab assembly, andhaving latching means void of screw threads for retaining the upper endof said stem within the socket, whereby the sub and swab assembly may bereadily and easily coupled and uncoupled.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a well swab constructed in accordance withthe invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the upperportion of the swab,

Figure 3 is a continuation of Figure 2 showing the lower portion of theswab,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on theline 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showingthe locking bar in an open position, and

Figure 8 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, ofanother type of swab assembly.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a tubular support or mandrelwhich has at its central portion a collar or spacer II which is weldedor otherwise secured to said mandrel. Surrounding the mandrel ll) aboveand below the spacer l I are mounted annular, elastic swab members orcups A and B respectively. The lower member B is confined between anupper flanged cap l2 which abuts the spacer II, and a lower thimble l3which is supported by a nut l4 screw-threaded on the lower end of themandrel. The inner lower edge of the nut I4 is provided with an annularbeveled valve seat H.

The upper swab member A has its lower end engaged in a thimble I5 whichis supported by the upper end of the spacer l I and an adjustableconfining cap l6 surrounds the upper end of the member. An adjusting nutl'l, having an upwardly directed sleeve I8 formed integral therewith, isscrew-threaded on the upper end of the mandrel l0 and engages the capHi. It will be seen that by moving the nut l'l vertically, the cap I6may be moved to regulate the distortion of the swab member A.

The extended sleeve portion l8 of the nut I1 is provided with aperturesl9, whereby, fluid may enter the bore of said sleeve and the bore of themandrel [0.

As clearly shown in Figure 3, a cavity or chamber 20' is formed betweenthe inner periphery of each swab member and the mandrel Ill. The mandrelhas ports 20 connecting with these chambers for admitting the fluidunder pressure and expanding the members into engagement with the wellwall.

A flexible stem 2|, formed of a length of steel cable or other suitablematerial, extends axially through the mandrel Ill and sleeve l8 and issuitably fastened in a cap 22 at its upper end. A valve 23 is secured onthe lower end of the stem in position to engage the seat l4"on the lowerend of the nut l4.

An elongate sub or head 24 is provided with a pin 24' at its top forconnection to a socket on the end of a cable line or other support (notshown). The sub is preferably provided with an axial bore 25 extendingto substantially its upper end, and an elongate radial slot 26 extendsfrom the midportion of the sub to its lower end.

The midportion of the slot is enlarged whereby a socket 21 havingshoulders 261 and 29 is formed for receiving the head 22 of the flexiblestem. As shown in Fig. 2, the head normally rests upon the lowershoulder 29 and is supported thereby, whereby the mandrel I is suspendedfrom said head and the sub 24.

A lockin or latching bar 30 is pivoted at its upper end 0 a pin 3| whichextends transversely at the upper end of the slot 26 above the socket21. It is noted that the bar is formed with a slot 3|) through which thepin 3| extends, whereby the bar may undergo a limited longitudinalmovement. The midportion of the locking bar is enlarged to fit withinthe socket 21 formed by the enlarged portion of the slot 26, wherebyshoulders 32 and 33 are formed near the upper and lower ends of the bar.An offset or shoulder 34 is formed on the inner surface of the bar, andwhen said bar is swung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 thisshoulder is in horizontal alinement with the shoulder 29 of the socket.It will be seen, therefore, that the head 22 is also supported by thisshoulder 34.

The shoulder 29 of the socket is recessed at its ends on each side ofthe slot 26 to form notches 35. Lugs 36 extend downwardly from the lowershoulder 33 of the locking bar and are adapted to engage in the notches35 when the bar is swung inwardly. It will be seen that when the lugsare engaged in the notches, the locking bar is prevented from swingingoutwardly and the head 22 of the stem 2| is securely held in the socket21.

The lower end of the sub is reduced to form a shoulder 31 and thereduced lower portion is adapted to freely telescope the sleeve l8 onthe upper end of the mandrel l0. However, the shoulder has a greaterdiameter than the sleeve and, therefore, the sub cannot slide downwardlyinto said sleeve.

For positively preventing displacement of the lugs 36 on the locking bar30 from the notches 35, a split ring 38 is arranged to fit in an annulargroove 39 formed in the reduced lower portion of the sub below theshoulder 31 and in the looking bar (Fig. 2), whereby upward movement ofthe locking bar is prevented.

Rotatably mounting the stem head 22 in the sub prevents twisting andspinning of the supporting cable from being transmitted to the swab. Asthe swab is lowered into the well, the sleeve l8 abuts the shoulder 31on the sub and the valve at the lower end of the swab is open. The wellfluid enters the bore of the mandrel I0 through the opening in the nutl4 and passes upwardly therethrough, being discharged through theapertures IS in the sleeve I8. When the swab has been lowered sumcientlyinto the well liquid and upward movement is started, the valve 23 isseated and the apertures I9 in the sleeve l8 admit fluid into themandrel It, said liquid flowing through the ports 20 into the chambers20'. Upon lifting the swab the liquid will exert sufiicient pressure toexpand the swab members into engagement with the wall of the well. Bypulling the swab upwardly liquid in the well thereabove is also lifted.

Frequently the swab is lowered to such a depth that the liquid above itforms too great a load to lift and the frictional contact of the swabmembers with the well wall becomes so great, due to the internalpressure, as to cause the swab to stick. If this should occur it ismerely necessary to slack up the line to allow the valve 23 to drop'fromthe seat l4, thus bleeding or unloading the swab, which frees the swabmembers.

It, also becomes necessary at times to use the sub as a hammer to aid inreleasing a swab whir' 1. has adhered or become stuck to the well well.This is done by dropping the sub until the shoulder 31 strikes theupper. end of the sleeve I6, thereby jarring the swab loose.

It will be seen that the mandrel may be readily disconnected from thesub by removing the split ring 38, lifting the locking bar to releasethe lugs 36 from the notches 35 and swinging the bar outwardly, as shownin Fig. '7, whereupon the head 22 and stem 2| may be removed from thesocket 21 and slot 26.

Manifestly the swab collars may be increased or decreased from thenumber shown by merely lengthening or shortening the mandrel III asdesired. Also, the swab members may be of any desired type.

In Figure 8 is shown another type of elastic swab member, which may beattached by means of the flexible stem 2| to the sub 24 in the manneralready described. The mandrel has mounted thereon in spaced relation aplurality of elastic swab cups 40 having internal reinforcing members 4|provided therein. The cups are adapted to be engaged ,in upwardlydirected thimbles 42, being confined therein by spacing sleeves 43. Eachcup is provided with grooves 44 extending upwardly from near the bottomof its outer periphery and reinforcing rods 45 of a cage are embedded inthese grooves and extend above the upper edge of the cups. The thimbles42 enclose and secure the lower ends of the rods and their upper endsare bent inwardly above the cup and hooked into a retaining ring 46. Aretaining nut 41 engages the upper end of the uppermost spacing sleeve43 and confines the assembly on the mandrel between a supporting nut 48at its lower end and said retaining nut.

The nut 41 is similar to the nut l1 and the nut 48 is similar to thevalve seated nut l4.

When this type swab is lowered into a well, the fluid entering the spacebetween the cups and the sleeve will expand said cups into engagementwith the wall of the well when the swab is lifted, and well fluidthereabove will be lifted with 50 the swab.

Obviously, should the swab become overloaded or stuck for any otherreason, the sub may be lowered opening the valve 23 and reducing thefluid column pressure as in the first form, whereupon the swab will befreed or unstuck.

Manifestly the sub may be used with a swab assembly having any type swabmembers thereon, and such assemblies may be readily connected ordisconnected or interchanged with regard to the sub.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, and latching means on the sub for detachablysecuring the flexible connecting means to the sub.

2. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swabmember carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat inthe support, and pivoted means on the sub for detachably securingthe flexible connecting means to the sub.

3. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, means on the sub for suspending the flexible meanstherefrom, and latching means for detachably holding said flexible meanson the suspending means.

4. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, means on the sub for suspending the flexible meanstherefrom, and pivoted means for detachably holding said flexible meanson the suspending means.

5. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permitthe flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and means for holding saidflexible means within the socket.

6. A well swab including, a tubularsupport having a. valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permitthe flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and latching means fordetachably holding said flexible means within the socket.

7. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permitthe flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and pivoted means on thesub for detachably holding said flexible means within the socket andsuspended therefrom.

8. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub hav- "for connecting the tubular ing a. valve at itslower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, pivoted means fordetachably securing the flexible means to the sub and means normallyholding the pivoted means against being opened. 5

9. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub havl0 ing a valve at its lower end adapted to engagethe seat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side topermit the flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and a swinginglocking bar pivoted to the sub for holding said flexible 15 means withinthe socket.

10. A well swab including. a tubular support having a valve seat at itslower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support. a sub carriedby a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubularsupport to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage theseat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permitthe flexible means to be inserted thereinto, a swinging locking barpivoted to the sub for holding said flexible means within the socket,and detachable means for holding the locking bar in a locking position.

11. A well swab including, a sub carried by a supporting element, atubular support having an elastic swab member mounted thereon and havinga valve seat at its lower end, flexible means support to the sub, havinga valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support,pivoted means for detachably'securing said flexible means to the sub andmeans normally holding the pivoted means against being opened.

12. A well swab including, a sub carried by a 0 supporting element andhaving a socket therein open at one side, a tubular support having anelastic swab member-mounted thereon and having a valve seat at its lowerend. flexible means extending axially through the support and having avalve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support andalso having a head at its upper end adapted to be mounted in the socketin the sub and means on the sub for detachably securing the head withinthe socket. o

13. A well swab including, a sub carried by a supporting element, atubular support having a plurality oi elastic swab members mountedthereon and having a valve seat at its lower end, means on the supportfor varying the distortion of the uppermost swab member, flexible meansfor connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at itslower end arranged to engage the seat in the support, and means on thesub for detachably securing the flexible means to u the sub.

HARVEY R. STANDLEE.

